June

June (also spelled Juune) is the sixth month of the Gregorian calendar, the widely used international calendar. It has 30 days and falls between May and July.

The name June derives from the Latin 'Iunius'. Some scholars link it to Juno, the Roman goddess, while others connect it to the word 'iuniores', meaning youth. The true origin cannot be determined with certainty.

Position in the calendar

In the early Roman calendar, June was the fourth month, as the year began in March. When January and February were later inserted, June became the sixth month. In the Gregorian calendar now in use, June always has 30 days every year.

Climate and seasons

In the Northern Hemisphere, June marks the beginning of summer. The June solstice falls in mid-month, the longest day of the year in the north and the shortest in the south. In the Southern Hemisphere, June begins winter.

In Somalia and the Horn of Africa generally, June falls in the Xagaa season, when the southwest monsoon strengthens. Southern coasts receive less rain, while some northern regions experience varied rainfall. Weather conditions vary from year to year.

Related observances

In Somalia, 26 June is recognized as the independence day of the northern region in 1960, while 1 July marks the unification and independence of the south. Many other countries also have national days in June. The June period sometimes overlaps with months in the Islamic lunar calendar, though this varies each year since the Islamic calendar is lunar-based.